There’s always a new reservation to make in Houston’s constantly evolving dining scene. From an expansive, upscale steakhouse to a neighborhood gem serving Louisiana-inspired dishes, new restaurants continue to vie for attention in a city packed with
options. Several newcomers have already earned recognition from Michelin, further cementing Houston’s position as a dining destination.
This month, Mack Allen’s, Parkwood American Grille, and Little Bird join the map. With those additions, Crawfish Cafe and Pho Prime cycles off of the list.
In search of more inspiration? Check out Eater Houston’s guides to the city’s best new cocktail bars.
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Long Weekend
2044 East T C Jester Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77008, United States
(713) 814-8978
Fans of the TV series Yellowstone will feel right at home at this Western-inspired spot in the Lazybrook/Timbergrove neighborhood. The family-friendly restaurant features a sprawling backyard playground, where kids can roam while adults gather around fire pits with cocktails in hand. Pair buttery rolls or beer-battered onion rings with steaks cooked over oak-fired grills. There is also pizza, with toppings that range from adventurous options like slow-braised rabbit to a crowd-pleasing pepperoni with hot honey. Nights can get crowded, so consider stopping by the daytime cafe for breakfast.
Little Bird
1815 North Durham Drive, Houston, Texas 77008, United States
(713) 485-5306
A filling station that formerly housed restaurants Flying Fish and then the Goat has a new life under chef and owner Graham Laborde. Little Bird, a Louisiana coast-inspired seafood restaurant, is the latest concept from Laborde, who also co-owns Winnie’s. The menu draws on classic Gulf Coast flavors with dishes such as hush puppies, fried catfish, shrimp toast, collared greens, and pickled okra. Laborde recruited chef Julia Doran, formerly of Nancy’s Hustle and Tiny Champions, to head the pastry program with desserts like a fried apple hand pie a la mode. Thrifted finds, a handcarved oyster bar, and murals from local artists add character to the indoor and dining spaces.
Star Rover
1801 North Shepherd Drive, Houston, Texas 77008, United States
(713) 955-3215
Star Rover is a throwback steakhouse, offering approachable dinners where diners choose their cut of beef, chicken, or fish. Each plate is accompanied by a crisp salad and warm milk rolls, while a serving of fries and onion rings arrive for the table. The short list of appetizers includes shrimp cocktail, Gulf oysters, potato skins, and vegetable crudites with whipped goat cheese. For dessert, there are house-made pies served a la mode, along with soft serve topped with brown butter and saltine crunch. The cocktail menu includes the Filthy Martini, the Fro’spro Tini (a frozen espresso martini), margaritas, beer, and steak-friendly wines. Ambitious diners can tackle the 76er challenge: Finish 76 ounces of beef, a salad, yeast rolls, a bowl of fries, and onion rings in under an hour and the meal is free.
Angie’s Pizza
1002 West 11th Street, STE A, Houston, Texas 77008, United States
(281) 962-0336
The hottest reservation in town is for a pizza joint in the Heights, where diners who couldn’t snag a timeslot line up early in hopes of getting a seat for a slice. The Neapolitan-style pizzeria is led by chef Angelo Emiliani, who built the menu around Texas-grown ingredients, working with local farmers to showcase the state’s seasonal produce. Wood-fired pizzas, including the Black Gold with mozzarella, Texas sheep’s milk Gouda, black garlic, and dried porcini, share the menu with dishes such as leek tortelloni and polenta “tots.” Upstairs, an Italian Deco bar seats 16 and serves drinks such as a Biscoff espresso martini.
Kirkwood
11720 Katy Fwy Ste 140, Houston, TX, 77079, US
(346) 396-5580
This newest addition to the Energy Corridor is a tribute to Mac Haik, the former Oilers football player turned car dealership king. A replica of the Astrodome’s famed ceiling welcomes diners, a nod to the wide receiver’s playing days. Patrons settle into plush booths lined with leather and velvet, digging into plates such as slow-braised short rib ragu and a 14-ounce prime rib with mashed potatoes. For a more elaborate experience, opt for the center-cut tenderloin for two, carved tableside, or the Petal Pusher Pour-Over, a gin-based cocktail delivered via bar cart.
Concrete Rose
1701 Commerce St, Houston, TX, 77002, US
(832) 792-1344
Concrete Rose is owner Greg Perez’s love letter to Houston and his Mexican American heritage. Intricate cocktails arrive on silver coasters embossed with the bar’s logo, alongside elegant bar bites such as a beet taco and a trio of salsas. The sleek interior is a blend of concrete, leather, and wood, while its location directly across a parking lot from Daikin Park makes it an easy stop before or after an Astros game, and especially appealing when the team is away and the lot is free. Try the Guava Danish, a cocktail of bourbon fat-washed with browned butter then mixed with croissant syrup and guava nectar, served with a scoop of cream cheese.
Jantra
3401 Harrisburg Boulevard, STE g-1, Houston, Texas 77003, United States
+17138554935
“Chef G,” as chef Benchawon Jabthong Painter is known around Houston, has expanded her already James Beard Award-winning talents with this intimate tasting menu restaurant. Jantra is the Thai word meaning “to the moon,” and here Painter imagines food through the eyes of diners who have just landed from outer space — a fitting premise for Space City. The eight-seat restaurant is tucked inside the former private dining room at Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized Street to Kitchen. The $175 experience features eight to 10 dishes like wild Canadian lobster served in a morel sauce, with optional wine pairings curated by Chef G’s husband, co-owner, and beverage director, Graham Painter. Jantra offers one seating nightly at 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
Mack Allen’s
4400 Post Oak Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77027, US
(713) 589-5079
Mack Allen’s is quickly becoming a destination for celebratory dinners, and it’s no wonder: The restaurant spans 16,000 square feet on the first floor of a 28-story office building, with towering trees, an oversized bar, and plush booths in the main dining room, and three uniquely themed private spaces, including one that serves as a toast to champagne bubbles. Mack Allen’s is a study in opulence with a menu of caviar, sushi, American wagyu, prime cuts of beef, and seafood, complemented by an estimated 1,000-bottle wine program.
1111
1111 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 393 7735
The newest nightlife destination from Army Sadeghi and Brandon Duliakas of Melrose was developed as an ode to Mexico City. The restaurant is named for its Westheimer address (it’s pronounced “eleven eleven”) and located next door to Doc’s Jazz Club, so it makes for an easy pre- or post-show stop. Clarified cocktails are the stars here, including the namesake margarita, crystal clear and topped with bubbles of salty lime air. Emmanuel Chavez, chef and co-owner of Michelin-starred Tatemó, created the food menu, which works equally well for a light snack or a full meal. The standout whole seabass is grilled over Spanish charcoal, then finished half in green sauce and half in red, served alongside tortillas, beans, and toppings fit for two.
Eastbound Barbecue
1105 Sampson Street, Houston, Texas 77003, United States
(713) 309-6562
Four veterans of Killen’s Restaurant Group turned their popular barbecue pop-up into this EaDo brick-and-mortar in June. Order the Works, a $32 platter with brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage, beans, and potato salad that’s enough to feed two, if not more. There are a few surprises alongside the barbecue staples, including a beef tallow-washed Old Fashioned and a rich mac and cheese made with lasagna noodles and Hatch chiles. Picnic tables, lounge seating, and a spacious backyard make it an easy pick for groups.
Toga
2800 Kirby Drive, STE B130, Houston, Texas 77098, United States
(713) 677-0775
Toga is Comma Hospitality’s most casual restaurant, joining the group’s portfolio alongside Neo, Kira, and Oru. The restaurant’s bird logo is a clue to its specialty: 13 varieties of yakitori made with nearly every part of the chicken and grilled over Japanese binchotan charcoal. The menu isn’t all poultry, though. Standouts include pickled Gulf shrimp served with a sesame rice cracker, crispy katsu with Kanazawa curry, and a wagyu burger made with a brisket and beef heart blend.
La Rosa
724 Telephone Road, Houston, Texas 77023, United States
This tiny East End sandwich shop has been the talk of the town since opening in April. La Rosa comes from the team behind Mimo, and revives the beloved Italian sandwiches that disappeared when the restaurant transitioned to dinner service. The menu is intentionally concise, offering just three panini: mortadella, formaggio, and a rotating daily special. The mortadella layers housemade pistachio pesto, creamy fior di latte, and arugula, while the formaggio adds crunch with a corn and zucchini fritter. The attention to detail extends beyond the fillings, with bread sourced from local bakery El Bolillo and scoops of gelato from Sweet Cup.
Parkwood American Grille
2131 West Parkwood Avenue, Friendswood, Texas 77546, United States
(409)-916-7781
Friendswood might not be the typical destination for inner loop diners, but Parkwood provides a good reason to trek south. Helmed by restaurateur Raz Halili and executive chef Joe Cervantez, the team behind Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, Parkwood takes a broad approach to its menu. Chilled oysters from Halili’s family business, Prestige Oysters, sit alongside a rotating selection from the East Coast. The redfish court bouillon is a standout, bringing together stewed tomatoes, bay leaves, and lemon in a shellfish broth with white rice.
